Borris-Ileigh (Tipperary) 1-17
Glen Rovers (Cork) 3-8
Shane Stapleton reports from Semple Stadium
CONOR KENNY LIT up Semple Stadium with six points from play as Borris-Ileigh saw off Glen Rovers to qualify for a first Munster final in 33 years.
James ‘JD’ Devaney continued his sumptuous goal-scoring form for Borris with a beauty just after the break, while Pat Horgan’s 2-4 couldn’t quite revive the Cork side’s hopes.
Borris dominated the first half and ‘Moose’ Kenny’s three points inside four minutes gave the maroon men the perfect start just a week after lifting the county crown.
The Rebel runners-up eventually settled on nine minutes when Simon Kennefick soloed through, drew Paddy Stapleton across, and fed Horgan who doubled to the net with aplomb.
Kevin Maher nailed identical frees from the right flank on 13 and 17 minutes to push the Premier men back ahead, while Jerry Kelly and Moose converted again.
Save from two fine scores from Dean Brosnan, and a Horgan free on the short whistle, it was a rough half hour for the Glen — going in 0-10 to 1-3 behind.
The Tipp side won the throw-in and Devaney sped through to find low past Cathal Hickey, widening the gap.
Without the injured Stephen McDonnell in defence, Rovers looked in bother but rallied against the wasteful hosts, with Horgan moving to centre-forward against the rampaging Brendan Maher.
Horgan slammed a free to the net from 25 yards on 43 minutes to give the Glen some hope, while Borris went 14 minutes without scoring.
Kevin Maher, Kenny and Kelly then got crucial scores to settle the Tipp men down the stretch, before substitute Mark Dooley connected with with a lobbed ‘65 for a late Rovers major.
Borris hung on, however, and will now face Ballygunner of Waterford in the Munster final.
Scorers for Borris-Ileigh: Conor Kenny 0-6; Kevin Maher 0-5 (0-3f); Jerry Kelly 0-4; James Devaney 1-0; Brendan Maher 0-2 (0-1 f; 0-1 ‘65).
Scorers for Glen Rovers: Patrick Horgan 2-4 (1-3f, 0-1 ‘65); Mark Dooley 1-0; Dean Brosnan 0-2; David Dooley, Glenn Kennefick 0-1 each.
Borris-Ileigh
1. James McCormack
2. Seamus Burke
3. Paddy Stapleton
4. Liam Ryan
5. Sean McCormack (joint captain)
6. Brendan Maher
7. Ray McCormack
8. Tommy Ryan
9. Dan McCormack
10. Kieran Maher
11. Niall Kenny
12. Conor Kenny (joint captain)
13. Kevin Maher
14. Jerry Kelly
15. James ‘JD’ Devaney
Subs
18. Jack Hogan for Tommy Ryan (55 mins)
19. Ciaran Cowan for Kelly (60 mins)
17 Jody Harkin for Stapleton (62 mins)
Glen Rovers
1. Cathal Hickey
2. Adam Lynch
3. David Dooling
4. Calvin Healy
5. Robert Downey
6. Brian Moylan
7. Dave Noonan
8. Donal Cronin
9. Adam O’Donovan
10. Dean Brosnan
11. Patrick Horgan
12. David Cunningham
13. Conor Dorris
14. Simon Kennefick
15. Liam Coughlan
Subs
17. Glenn Kennefick for Dorris (36 mins)
28. Mark Dooley for Simon Kennefick (36 mins)
26. Evan Murphy for Coughlan (48 mins)
21. David Busteed for Cunningham (53 mins)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
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